The biggest moments in car history
10/01/08
Cars have a fascinating past. Here we chart its progress through the decades.
The invention of the automobile has definitely changed our lives. Through the centuries man has made it a mission to continuously improve the automobile industry, from developing steam powered cars in the 1800’s, to environmentally friendly hybrid cars in the 90’s.
1769 The first self propelled car was built
In 1769 a French military engineer named Nicolas Cugnot developed a steam powered road vehicle for the French army to carry heavy cannons. Cugnot used a steam engine fixed to a three-wheeled cart and successfully converted the back and forth action of a steam piston into rotary motion. The truck could only reach walking speed but was able to carry four tons. The army soon abandoned this invention.
1801 Britain introduces steam powered cars
In the 1800’s Richard Trevithick improved the design of steam engines by introducing a smaller and lighter model with stronger boilers generating more power. In 1801, he added wheels to his new and improved compact steam engine. This ’road locomotive’ was known as the Puffing Devil and was the first horse-less carriage to transport passengers.
1858 First coal gas engine
A Belgian born engineer named Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir invented and patented a two stroke, internal combustion engine. This engine was fuelled by coal gas and triggered by an electric spark ignition. Later, Lenoir attached an improved engine to a three wheels wagon and completed a fifty mile road trip.
1865 UK introduces speed restrictions
The Locomotive Act of 1865 prevented the speed of horse-less vehicles to exceed 4mph in the open country and 2mph in the towns. This act required three drivers for each vehicle, two to travel in the vehicle, and one to walking ahead waving a red flag. For the next 30 years traveling cars couldn’t exceed walking speed.
1876 The invention of the four and two stroke engine
1876 Nikolaus August Otto invented and later patented a successful four stroke engine, the ’Otto Cycle’. In that same year, the first successful two stroke engine was invented by a Scottish engineer, Sir Duguld Clerk.
1886 Motor age moves forward
The first vehicles driven using internal combustion engines where developed around the same time by two engineers working in different parts of Germany, namely Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. Simultaneously they developed highly successful and practically powered vehicles that worked similar to the motor vehicles we use today. This is when the age of modern motor vehicles began.
1889 The first motor company formed
Rene Panhard and Emile Levassor, two former French wood machinists, set up the world’s first car manufacturers. Their first car was built in 1890 using a Daimler engine. Peugeot, another French company, was formed the following year and is today still going strong.
1890 Maybach speeds things up
Wilhelm Maybach built the world’s first four cylinder, four stroke engine. About three years later he developed the spray nozzle carburettor, which became the basis for modern carburettor technology. Ten years later he developed a race car using lightweight metals and fitted with a 35 hp four cylinder engine and two carburettors. This was named the Mercedes and reached a maximum speed of 64.4 km/h, faster than any other vehicle at the time.
1896 First road traffic death
In 1896 Bridget Driscoll, a 44 year old women from Croydon, became the first victim of a road traffic accident. The unfortunate incident happened while she was stepping off the curb, causing a passing motor to hit her. The vehicle was going at just 4mph. Strangely enough, the coroner who was handling the case of accidental death stated, ‘I trust this nonsense will not happen again’.
1903 The rise of the Ford Motor Company
The Ford Motor Company, founded by Henry Ford, became the world’s biggest car manufacturers after moving assembly lines to the factory in 1913. These and other innovative methods implemented by Henry Ford became known as Fordisms. By 1927, 15 million Model T’s had been manufactured. Workers on the production line assembled a car in just 93 minutes.
1911 Key development
Charles Kettering invented the electric ignition in 1911, allowing cars to now start by themselves. Kettering later introduced independent suspension and four wheel brakes. By 1930, most of the technology used for motor vehicles had already been invented.
1965 Emissions regulations introduced
The control of harmful emissions from automobiles was introduced in California, and soon the rest of the world issued these regulations as well.
Safety devices also became compulsory as manufacturers only included seat belts as an optional extra.
1973 Energy crisis
After the Arab oil embargo of 1973 started, oil prices started rising, causing a worldwide panic. This had a huge effect on the motor industry and fuel economy suddenly became something to consider when purchasing a car.
1978 Safe stopping distance decreased
Bosch, a German automobile manufacturer developed anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in 1978. They first featured in trucks and cars made by Mercedes Benz. ABS brakes allow the driver to maintain steering control and to shorten braking distance.
1997 Car manufacturers get green
Manufacturers stated that oil reserves will run out in the future. They are now developing engines that use more than one fuel source i.e. hybrid engines. Honda and Toyota initially introduced their petrol/electric hybrids to the Japanese market, before its release in America and Europe in 2002.